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I imagine this thread will quickly devolve into a LBS advocacy thread, so I'll start by admitting that, yes, I bought a bike recently at Performance. I did a LOT of shopping, spent much time going to several different LBS, riding many many different bikes. In the end, Performance had the bike that fit me the best, with the best components/price ratio, and I spent hundreds less than I would have for a similar bike at an LBS (if I had even found one that felt as right for me, which I didn't at any price). So there ya go. For me, getting the right bike at the right price was the right choice.

Now, that said, maybe I'm missing something but I was glancing through their latest mailer and saw something that confused me. They were advertising some sale prices on Scattante bikes. They would list a savings amount and 3 prices, like this.

Save $1000!Compare at: $2699.00Sale Price:$1699.00/Our Price:$1799.00

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Scattante is Performance's in-house brand. So, if the sale price is $1699, and the "our price" is $1799, where in the world does the $2699 come from? "Compare to this made up price that no one sells this bike for!" Huh?

Fuji Newest 1.0. I got the 2010 model, so it was a deep discount. For an an aluminum bike with a carbon fork AND tiagra shifters (big one for me, I much prefer them to the sora style) AND 105 derailleur, I paid a price that I would have been lucky to pay for a bike with just ONE of those "upgraded" components (all the bikes I was looking at in my price range that had the carbon fork were either all Sora components, or a couple hundred $ more). The price was so good I though for sure I'd get on it for a test ride and hate how it felt, but it was seriously the most comfortable test ride I took through all of my shopping.

"Compare at $2,699" is ad speak. It's kind of like "$2,699 value". I think the correct American translation is: "We'd sell it for $2,699 if we could."

Yeah, that's what I had to conclude. And it's forgivable when it's a brand that's sold elsewhere, because I'm sure you could find someone selling a Specialized bike for $1000 more than they charge. But it's their own damned brand. It even says "Exclusive!" right on the ad.

I just wonder how they pick the number, since it's out of thin air? Why not say, "Save $2000!" and call it a $3699 bike?

Couldn't they have at least bothered to say, "Compare to similar bikes that sell for $2699." I imagine, when you get down to it, that's how they'd justify it. "A Specialized branded bike with the same frame material and these components costs $2699," but that's not what the ad implies. The ad implies they've taken $1000 off their regular price. Pretty shady.

Now, that said, maybe I'm missing something but I was glancing through their latest mailer and saw something that confused me. They were advertising some sale prices on Scattante bikes. They would list a savings amount and 3 prices, like this.

Save $1000!Compare at: $2699.00Sale Price:$1699.00/Our Price:$1799.00

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Scattante is Performance's in-house brand. So, if the sale price is $1699, and the "our price" is $1799, where in the world does the $2699 come from? "Compare to this made up price that no one sells this bike for!" Huh?

I bought my Fuji Newest from them in 08. Its an 07 model so I got it for $430. I had more than enough points to cover it!!! The points is why I shop there for my supplies. Maintenance I take to a small bike shop about 8 miles down the road from me